Brush having a disposable part and ejector therefor



J. C. GINTER Nov. 21, 1967 BRUSH HAVING A DISPOSABLE PART AND EJECTOR THEREFOR Filed April 21, 1966 Ava United States Patent Ofifice 3,353,293 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 3,353,203 BRUSH HAVING A DISPOSABLE PART AND EJECTOR THEREFOR James C. Ginter 1134 Linda Vista Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91103 Filed Apr. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 544,179 1 Claim. (Cl. 244) ABSTRACT OF THE DISULOSURE The invention is a paint brush of the type having a disposable paint applying part. The part is comprised of soft spongy material attached to an extension on a fitting which is removably received in a socket on the handle. Within the handle is a reciprocatable stem or plunger having a foot on the end engageable with the fitting on the disposable part. The plunger or stem is manually actuatable, that is, reciprocatable to eject the disposable part of the brush from the socket in the handle.

This invention relates generally to improvements in brushes for applying paint or comparable materials and, more particularly, to a brush of this type having a disposable part. The disposable part is the paint-applying part of the brush corresponding to the bristles of known types of brushes. When it is desired to discard the disposable part of the brush it is separated from the handle. The herein invention provides novel and unique means for separating the disposable part from the handle. In the exemplary form of the invention described herein, the said means is in the form of an ejector which ejects the disposable part from a socket in the handle.

The problems of cleaning and keeping paint brushes clean is one that is well known in the art. Brushes must be cleaned before being stored even overnight in order that the bristles will remain soft and pliable rather than becoming rigid with hardened paint or other material If the brush becomes clogged with hardened paint, it is, of course, not capable of being used as a paint brush. Cleaning brushes is a distasteful and tedious job. This is particularly true when the brush must be cleaned quite often. In the exemplary form of the invention, the paintapplying part of the brush is constructed as a disposable or throw-away element which is removable from the handle for disposal. Preferably, the paint-applying portion of the brush does not comprise bristles but rather a soft spongy material which may be one of various different plastic materials, including non-rigid foam made from a synthetic resin or plastic, such as polyester or polyurethane resins. The detachability of the paint-applying part of the brush is accomplished by providing a socket and fitting relationship between the disposable part and the handle. In this way the parts are securely held together while in use, but can be readily separated for disposing of the paint-applying portion or disposable part. Preferably, the socket is formed in the brush handle to detachably receive a fitting on the disposable part of the brush. The disposable part of the brush preferably comprises a member to which the spongy material is applied. In the exemplary form of the invention the brush is provided with a manually actuatable ejector for separating the disposable part of the brush from the handle. It takes the form of an ejector plunger or stem movable in a bore in the handle. The plunger has a foot which is engageable with the fitting on the disposable part of the brush within the socket on the handle. The plunger has a knob on the end for reciprocating it to eject the fitting from the socket. In this way the disposable part of the brush can be separated (i.e.), ejected and discarded without the necessity of touching it in any way or contacting the paint or liquid on it.

The primary object of the invention is accordingly to provide, in a brush having a disposable part, novel and unique means for separating the disposable part from the handle. A further object is to provide a construction wherein the said means takes the form of an ejector operable through the handle as described.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the brush taken along line 33 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the disposable part of the brush showing the soft spongy paint-applying material separated from the internal web and fitting member which is received in the socket.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the invention comprises main parts which are the handle designated at 10 and the paint-applying portion as designated at 12. The handle has a part 11 to be grasped by the hand and an enlarged lower part designated at 14. This part is elongated transversely of the handle and has rounded end parts as designated at 16. Part 14 forms a socket to receive the disposable part of the brush, as will be described.

The disposable part of the brush as designated at 12 comprises a fitting adapted to be removably received in the socket 14 and this construction is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

The handle and socket may be made from various materials including plastic materials which are inert with respect to solvents used with paints and varnishes and may be manufactured by molding processes or otherwise from synthetic resin or plastic such as nylon or polyethylene resins. In the preferred form of the invention shown, the grip part of the brush 11 is hollow.

Referring again to the disposable part of the brush, it comprises the support member designated generally at 18. This member has a fitting at the upper end thereof and designated at 20, having a particular construction so as to be frictionally but removably received Within the socket 14 of the handle. This fitting comprises two transverse plate members designated at 22 and 24, being of a size and shape to fit snugly within the socket 14. Midway between these plate members and in a position normal to them is a strengthening and stiffening rib :26 as may be seen in FIGURE 2. A plurality of transverse stiffening ribs, designated at 28 and 39, extend outwardly from the vertical rib 26 to the edges of the plates 22 and 24.. At the ends of the plates 22 and 24 are arcuate spacing members 32 and 34 having central ribs designated at 36. At these points of fitting 20 there are downwardly extending fingers similarly arcuate in cross-section as designated at 40 and 42. The configuration of the fitting as described is such as to enable it to be frictionally received and held within the skirt formed by the socket 14 on the handle 10, as shown in FIGURE 2. The ribs as shown at 36 and the extending fingers 40 and 42 fit snugly within the socket 14 so that the fitting 20 is firmly held therein but yet can be readily removed therefrom as will be described. The ribs or webs 26, 28 and 30 give the fitting sufficient strength and rigidity that it can be held in the socket frictionally in such a way that the brush can be used as such but yet the fitting is readily removable from the socket.

The part 18 has an extension or web part 46 extending downwardly from the lower plate or member 24.

3 This part is integral with-.thefitting 20. The unit 18 may preferably be made ,of any ,various of.materials.suitable.

to this purpose. It may be preferably manufactured by a molding process from suitable synthetic resin or plastic,

such as nylon and polyethyleneresins, Theweb or extene sion 46 is thinner at the lower end and tapers towards to provide flexibility in the extension member. comparable to thatin anordinary bristle brush The paint-applying partof the brush itself -.comprises the envelope 52l madeuof a softspongy material which will. absorb and hold paint and for applying the paint to a surface. The extension 46 contributes sufiicient stiffness.

to the envelope 52 to make it suitable for paint-applying purposes. A suitable material for this element is a none rigid foam made from a syntheticresin or plastic such as polyester or polyurethane resins. Other materials may be used, however; thematerial 152 is formed ,with an internal slot, as designated at 54, shaped to .fit over ther.ex-.

tension 46 on the fitting 20, .T he slot 54 may extend between circular bores 56 and 58 at. its ends. The end part,

of the element 52 is preferably tapered asshown at 62.

The envelope 52 slips ,over theextension46 on fitting 20 and, it is secured to the upper partof the extension.46.- byintegral extending pins or projections as shown at 64-:-

and 66, which extend into the spongy material 52 within skirt 14 as shown in FIGURE 2. As maybe observed,,-the unit 18 may be formed as a single element and the method of attachment of the envelope 52 isextremely simple/and economical but'yet very effective-for.)its purpose. Its

upper part may be simply stretched atslot 54a nd slipped overvextension 46, and the ,projectionsforced into the spongymaterialr Severalof the projections may be provided on each side of extension 46. If desired, theenvelope may be permanently,.attached to the fitting 20,

asbystaples through the. upper. part of the enyelope and extension.46. The envelope and fitting may.-be,discarded;v

and disposed of as .a unit;

Simplified, but extremelyefiective'means are provided for separating the. disposable .part ofthe brush from;,th ehandle. The handle in the .form of theinventionvis hollow, thegrip. part 11 having a bore 70. Mo,\ able longitudinally of the handle is ,a plunger or .stem. 71-havin g,a foot or pusher 72 on its inner end, within the socket .16.,The

stem 11 has a knob 73 on itsoppositeendadjacentlhe'. end, of vhand1e11. A tskirtt74ris preferably, formed .in-,-. tegrally' with knob 73 and has a sliding fit on the tubular;

end part of handlell. 7

When it is desired to discard:the disp osable part;of

the brush, the plunger 71 need only. be reciprocated in handle 10, to cause the foot,72, to exert force against fitting 70 which is ejected from its holding socket 16.-

As will be observed, the ejection (i.e.),'the separation of the disposable part of the brush-for:.discard--is;accom--- plished without the, necessity of touching the disposable part at all, which part would have-paint or other material,

on, it.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe achieves all of the objects and advantages as set forth in the foregoing, as well as having many additional advantages which are apparent from the detailed description. The brush can be very economically made and the disposable part ofthebrushcan beejected-and discardedby way of a very simple'but -effective,manipulation. The construction is such as to make possiblevery simplified and inexpensive fabricationand production.

The foregoing describes, and illustratesa preferred form of the invention. The disclosure is intended to be illustrative rather than limiting upon the invention which is to be accorded the full scopeof the-claim appended hereto. Various equivalent departures may be made from the details of construction and assembly as described herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

What is claimed is:

A' brush for the application of paint and the like comprising in combination, meansforming a handle part providing a grip for holding the brush, the said brush having a disposable part detachably connected to the handle, the disposable part comprising softmaterial for absorbing and applyiugpaint, manually actuata'ble means for detaching and separating the disposable part from the handle, said disposable part comprising a fittinghaving an extension projecting therefrom said projection being flexibleand having an envelope of soft; spongy, resilient, and paint absorbent material thereon, the said handle having a socket to receive said fitting, said manually actuatable means comprising a plunger-extending through a bore in said handle, said plunger having an end part positioned in said socket-for engaging said fitting and ejecting the fitting therefrom and having a knob atits opposite end for reciprocating theplunger in the; bore of we handle,

the handle of the brush having, anelongated grip and 1 widened .part, the said; socket having; substantially the same configuration as the widened part, the said fitting comprising a structure having the same configuration as j the cavity in .the socket to be received therein; and the plungerhavingafoot part on-itsinner end'adapted to engage said fitting for ejecting DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

